This week has been quite the crazy week for me here at the MTC. We are officially here at our new MTC home on the West Campus. It was a pretty crazy day on Tuesday with the move and what not but we are here and all is well. I just sent you guys a letter with more information and with some answers to your questions and what not, so be expecting that in the next couple days.
Good ol' Tim-Dan-Slam eh? That is pretty dang exciting. I opened the package from Mel and ran back to my Res yelling, "It's a boy! It's a boy!" haha it was pretty funny. (thanks for the M&Ms btw, really made the news that much more exciting ;)) haha just kidding. I am super duper excited for our family! A new little boy! Yay! :) This paragraph is about Melinda's baby.
Thanks for the pictures of the fam! That was fun to see all of you guys and your different activities. Jor football, Jen homework, Char cutest little ladybug girl I have ever seen, Dad doing his thang, and Nina...on a swing. hahaha Ano Bayan! (What in the world?) haha I'm jsut messing but that picture is super cute of you nina :) I like it a lot.
MOM! You went to prom with Elder Haymond's dad??? hahahaha I showed him the DearElder you sent me earlier this week and he got the greatest kick out of it haha that is too funny!
Let's see, it is cold here. Very cold. but don't worry guys, I'm about to leave for an island in 9 days, it's no big deal. AHH! Sike. It's a totally big deal. Get this, flight plans usually come on Fridays but they came on Thursday for some reason!! Mom you were totally right, it was a GREAT Thursday! I leave the MTC at 7:30 AM Monday October 7th, fly out of SLC at 11:35 AM, Arrive in Portland, Oregon at 12:33 PM, leave for TOKYO :) at 1:45 PM, arrive in Tokyo at 4:55 PM then leave for Manila at 6:30 PM, arrive in Manila at 10:10 PM, stay the night/next day in Manila, then either Fly or take a bus down to NAGA! Whoot Whoot! So exciting! I've never been to Oregon, Japan, or the Philippines so danggg, I get to check lots of places off my list! ha We are all so stoked here! And my District will be traveling together the entire time to Naga! how cool is that? That rarely rarely happens!
Okay now on to the most important part of this week's email. If you weren't paying attention before, perk up those ears and listen now. This week's Tuesday night devotional was amazing. I learned so much and felt the spirit incredibly strong. The Elder from the Seventy talked a lot about our purpose and how we must INVITE others to come unto Christ and how important it is to invite not just neighbors and friends, but family too. Especially our families. Honestly as he was talking I felt kind of guilty for not reaching out to my friends and family more before my mission. I think that a lot of times we think we must "go on a mission" to really bring people unto Christ but boy are we wrong. Every single day we should be doing missionary work. EVERY DAY. I thought of our own family and the many members of our family who are not active in the church. I thought of all the times I was kind and loving toward them but never actually invited them to come back to church or to read the Book of Mormon or quit smoking or pray to God or bear my testimony to them or anything! How did I let that happen? How have I gone essentially my whole life believing that only through Jesus Christ can we be saved and yet never inviting those I love most to come unto Him? That night I committed to myself and to my Father in Heaven that I would try harder to be an instrument in His hands, to talk to everyone about the gospel, to stand even stronger in my beliefs, and to not be afraid to open my mouth when the message I have to share is about someone else's salvation. We have such a marvelous, remarkably unique message to share with the entire world. We must have courage and open our mouths to everyone. Not just those having a bad day, not just those we feel comfortable talking to, but rather we must invite in one way or another ALL people to come unto Christ. You know, all my life I have been taught to be kind to others and love everyone. Although this is true and it is unbelievably important to do so, it is as important to present the opportunity for these lost sheep to return to the fold through inviting them to come to church, to read the Book of Mormon, to learn more about the gospel, to meet with the missionaries, to pray to our Father in Heaven, and to come unto our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I told my District that night at our District testimony meeting about our family motto, "No Empty Seats." I love this gospel so much and I know that only by abiding by it's precepts will we be able to return as a whole, connected, loving, sealed for all time and eternity, family unit. As I bore my testimony I began to cry at the thought of any empty seats in Heaven.
Mosiah 28:3 states: "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thought that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."
If you don't feel this way, you should. We have the key to salvation. We have the true, restored gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today. Why on earth would you not open your mouth? Why would you not leap for joy at the opportunity to share this with everyone?? I am so grateful that I was raised with this knowledge and this beautiful gift in my life, but even more than that, I feel blessed for the opportunity I was given to declare this gospel to the world and to share it with so many others! I beg you to trust in the Lord, to pray for guidance and direction, and to have the courage to invite others to come unto Jesus Christ. In every thought you have, word you say, and action you make, you should be representing our perfect example, Jesus Christ. Remember that Heavenly Father is watching over us, He is aware of all of us and just wants to help us. Remember that Jesus Christ suffered ALL things, He performed an INFINITE Atonement, He has felt all that we have, do, and will, feel and experience. Trust in them that know better and can see clearer than us. Be kind. Love everyone. INVITE ALL. It is up to us to share this gospel of Jesus Christ. No. Empty. Seats. Remember that.
I love you guys so much and am so blessed to be here on my mission! I learn and grow so much every day. What a great blessing this gospel is in our lives. Don't ever forget whose side we are on. I love you, Christ loves you, God loves you.
I can't wait to talk to you in a week! Man, time flies. I love you all unconditionally!
Mahal Kita!
-Sister Emily Roderick
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| Catherine Cuesta w/ at Em at the Provo Temple. Catherine just received her call to serve a mission in the California, Sacramento mission. She'll leave in January. |
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| Sister Alatini and Emily in front of their new Raintree apartment a.k.a. MTC West |
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